Some well-known British actors who have not appeared in the series are asked in jest why they haven't yet been cast. In 2007, when Yates was directing Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Bill Nighy said, "I joked with [Yates] that maybe now I wouldn't be the only actor in England who hadn't been in 'Harry Potter'". But "nobody called," Nighy added.[1] Ironically, in 2009, Nighy was cast as Minister for Magic Rufus Scrimgeour in Deathly Hallows, which Yates is directing. Nighy said, "I am no longer the only English actor not to be in Harry Potter and I am very pleased."[2] Jude Law has quipped, "Nobody's asked me. I was a bit too old for Harry".[3] When a reporter compared Potions professor Horace Slughorn's obsession with famous names to the series' connection to "every notable British actor," Jim Broadbent, who plays Slughorn said, "Well, not every actor gets invited. I know some who are still waiting."[4]

The list is sorted by film and character, as some characters have been portrayed by multiple actors.